Nehemiah 5:5-7 -
Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and
though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and
daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been
enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to
others." When I heard
their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused
the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury
from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal
with them.
Some of the wealthier Jews had begun to take advantage of
the poorer people who had returned from Babylon. The poor had reached their limits of
tolerance...and cried out to Nehemiah for justice. They could not pay the taxes on their land….so
the prosperous…in their greed…had required their daughters as payment. They simply could not bear the thought of
losing their sons as well. They could
not understand how someone who served the same God …and was a blood relative of
Abraham….could be so pompous and callous toward their own people.
Nehemiah pondered his anger for a time before he acted. And even though it is not recorded …I am sure
that he asked God what to do…before he faced these men with their greed and
hypocritical attitudes. He forced them to face their mistreatment of God’s
chosen people…and called for them to be more caring toward their own people. He
told them to give back the fields and taxes they had taken …and swear to God
that they would never take advantage of their brothers again.
We are called to help our brothers and sisters without
asking for anything in return. Luke recorded Jesus’ own words in chapter 6 on
this topic. His sermon to the disciples
and the ones that had gathered around him were clear on lending to others that
need our help. Verses 34-35 say… “ And
if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to
you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in
full. But love your enemies, do good to
them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most
High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
We do need to be careful…there are just as many scriptures
that warn us that too much help can make one co-dependent. 2 Thessalonians 3 gives a great warning to
those that are idle….verse 10 clearly states… “ For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work,
he shall not eat." We must somehow find a way to teach others to depend on
God…not man for their many needs….as it says in Phillipians 4:19… “ And my God
will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Only God can give us the discernment to know how much help
each person requires. Sometimes…he requires us to give the cloaks straight off
our backs… If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If
someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them…as recorded in Luke
6:29. Other times he expects us to show
someone how to find their own cloak….to walk beside them…and train them with
the wisdom God has given to us. Proverbs
22:6 … “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will
not depart from it.” …could mean all children of God…not just our own children.
We just need to ponder…and pray to God for the wisdom he promised us in James
1:5… “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Father….I thank you for the
reminder that you think giving is much more important than receiving. Help me
to give more and take less. Help me to
stop as Nehemiah did and ponder the worth to others of my gift…and whether it
should be an outright gift with nothing to pay back….or a lesson in how to
depend on you. Help me to never take
advantage of others…and ever to judge the needs you reveal to my heart…but
rather show compassion and love and mercy the way your son Jesus modeled for me
when he died for my sins and asked nothing in return. Amen.
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